China may design and develop its own aircraft carrier and carrier battle groups within the next 18 months, says a senior Western military official interviewed by the Times of the UK.
As the country's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, returned to the port city of Dalian on Oct. 30 after completing its first sea trial since its was turned over to the PLA Navy in September, the Chinese government could already be looking at building another carrier.
As the Liaoning was refitted from the former Soviet-era carrier Varyag, which was acquired from Ukraine in 1998, China is still keen to build a 100% domestically designed carrier to boost its international status, according to the article published in the Times on Wednesday.
Read the full story at Want China Times